Fall 2018 Cover Story: Lauren Racanelli – The New Generation of Homebuyers. Interview by Maxwell Alexander Max: Hi Lauren! Thank you so much for the amazing cover photo shoot and for shedding some light on how Hudson Valley’s Real Estate market is evolving, but first, please tell us about yourself and why you call Hudson Valley your home. Lauren: Thank you! I am a NYS Licensed Real Estate Salesperson, specializing in residential home sales in the Hudson Valley. My main focus are counties like Orange, Dutchess, Putnam and Ulster. I had a blast taking the photos and it was fun […]

by Maxwell Alexander, CEO & Founder, Landida™ Smart Landscapes A luscious green lawn used to be a source of pride and a symbol of achieving the American Dream, well, at least for Babyboomers. They loved sugary drinks with artificial colors and flavors and dumped millions of tons of pesticides in their front yard to keep the grass greener on their side of the road, and neighbors jealous across the street. Good news for the Planet: the new generation of homeowners is in town! Millennials are way more eco-conscious, know that climate change is an actual thing, they prefer being healthy and cannot stand […]

by Dino Alexander (CEO, Duncan Avenue Group) Building site for Villa 9W was carefully carved into the East side of a hill with glass atrium and direction of the roof almost precisely facing South and the direction of the Hudson River. Looking at Bagua (or Pa Kua) – Feng Shui energy map, we see that Villa 9W is oriented towards Fame and Reputation Life Area (or a better translation “The Light Within You”) and the Feng Shui Element Fire. Furthermore, 2-story-high iron fireplace takes a center stage in the atrium that amplifies connection to the energy of Fire. Interestingly, this […]

Hudson Valley Homes and Estates really do have a lot of character, not to mention that the architecture, landscaping and natural setting is truly stunning. With the backdrop of the Hudson Valley, it is a prime location for aerial drone photography. With years of experience, it is safe to say that Duncan Avenue Photography and Design Studio works diligently to make sure that our clients get the result they want out of their aerial photography and this is especially the case if they are trying to sell or market their property. With breath-taking photographs and a friendly team who will […]

Villa 9W and Five Elements of Feng Shui by Dino Alexander, CEO Duncan Avenue Group Principles of Taoism as a religion emerged around the 4th century BC in the work of Chinese philosopher and writer Laozi. Practices and traditions of balancing the natural energy (chi) in the environment are closely linked with concepts of Taoism and historically were widely used t orient spiritually significant structures and places of worship and took in account references to local topography, bodies of water, astronomical position and directions of Earth’s magnetic field. Over the period of hundreds of years, these traditions and principles have […]

Lighting the Way – Hudson Valley Designer Stephanie Reppas Interview by Maxwell Alexander Max: Congratulations on the amazing cover shot, Stephanie! We are proud to have you lead the Winter Edition and shine the light on your beautiful work. When and how did Hudson Valley become your home, and how did you realize your lighting design talent? Stephanie: I moved to the Hudson Valley in 2008. Before that, I lived in NYC, which was amazing, but after a few years I really missed having space and quiet. I’d read an article in The Times about the village of Sleepy Hollow. […]

10 reasons to plant a tree this spring (BPT) – Did you know planting a tree is one of the easiest and most powerful things you can do to have a positive impact on the environment? It’s true. Trees clean the air, prevent rainwater runoff, help you save energy and even combat global warming. And they’re a snap to plant! No horticultural degree required. With Arbor Day just around the corner in April, there’s no better time to give Mother Nature a little TLC by planting a tree. From the single homeowner in Nebraska planting a maple in her backyard […]

Dr. Erik Brower (Innate Chiropractic) – The Gift of Health Interview and Photography by Maxwell Alexander Max: Hi, Erik! Thank you for the cover story in our first holiday issue! It was a life-changing experience for both Dino and me to find out about Innate Chiropractic. Please tell our readers about yourself, what you do and the role your practice plays in the local community. Dr. Erik: Innate Chiropractic was founded in Newburgh, New York in November of 2010. Our mission is to assist individuals and families in gaining victory over their health and having better lives through neurologically based […]

Interview by Maxwell Alexander [ Executive Editor ] Hudson Valley Style Magazine Max: Hi Elisa! Thank you for the opportunity to shine the light on your amazing talent and highlight your work of art in our magazine! What do you do and how in your opinion it impacts the World around you? Elisa: I’m a jewelry designer based in Red Hook, NY and the way I want my life and my business to impact the world around me is surely by being a responsible, attentive and resourceful person. It is not always easy and it comes with challenges and compromises, […]

Interview by Maxwell Alexander Photography by Kinga Sliwinska Max: Hi Judy! Thanks for the amazing cover photo shoot and congrats on your wedding! I’ve known you and Paul since grad school at FIT, but how did you guys first meet? Judy: Hi Max, and thank you for thinking of us and our wedding. We both are honored to be featured in the Hudson Valley Style Magazine. Paul and I first met the summer of 2010 during The Nautical Mile Festival in Freeport, NY. I was out with my girlfriends celebrating my birthday when a friend introduced us. We spent the […]

Bria Tavakoli: Wellness is the New Beauty. Interview and Photo Story by Maxwell Alexander Max: Hi Bria, thank you so much for the opportunity to shine the light on your life! I’ve known you for years, but please, tell us about yourself 🙂 Bria: I’m Bria Tavakoli. I have been leading yoga retreats in the Hudson Valley for nearly 8 years now. I teach yoga full-time in New York City. I also offer Reiki healing sessions and more fitness-oriented core/Pilates sessions. Max: This is our wellness issues. What is wellness and beauty to you? How has your definition and understanding […]

Hudson Valley Style Magazine Designer Profile: Jewelry Designer Sara Golden by Maxwell Alexander [ Executive Editor ] Hudson Valley Style Magazine Hello, Sara! What do you do and how in your opinion it impacts the World around you? – I design and make jewelry out of my small studio in the Catskill Mountains. For so many years I designed jewelry for big companies in New York City where all the work was outsourced and where quality was too often compromised to meet sales goals. By working out of my own studio I can focus on making the best possible product, through using […]

Hudson Valley Hidden Trails by Maxwell Alexander [ Executive Editor ] Hudson Valley Style Magazine Hudson Valley is famous for its amazing views and hiking trails. In fact, this is one of the main reasons people are moving into to the area or coming to visit from all around the World. For an avid explorer Breakneck Ridge, Mount Beacon, and Bear Mountain Park are on the bucket list, but that’s only the top of the iceberg! We moved to the area years ago (Dino, Vicka, Jack and Max on the picture above), and established a consistent nature’s beauty exploration schedule: […]

Are your new year’s resolutions now a distant memory? Did the simple thought of them cause you to cringe? by Bria Tavakoli [ Health & Wellness Contributing Editor ] Hudson Valley Style Magazine Let’s be honest. Some of us feel an intense internal resistance to new year’s resolutions, then feel bad when our resolutions and good intentions fizzle out or even flop. I’m here to tell ya…there are natural reasons why we feel this resistance. Before we continue here, let me state that if you are into new year’s resolutions, I support you. Do you, do what works. Personally, I’m […]

Walnut Street (New Windsor, NY) Design & Renovation Project by Duncan Avenue Design Studio By Maxwell Alexander, Executive Editor, Hudson Valley Style Magazine This Kitchen really worth its own cooking TV Show! The kitchen is the heart of any home and this particular kitchen is 16 ft. long and is a perfect playground for a seasoned cook or aspiring cooking TV show host. It’s not just the size of the kitchen, but also the amazing contemporary features that are also spectacular. Industrial Style Concrete Countertops Concrete Countertops have gained a lot of attention recently. They are very flexible in design […]